Scenic apparatus



H. R. LAW

SCENIC APPARATUS Filed June 1. 1921 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

HARRY ROBERT LAW, on NEW YoRK, N. Y.

EXTENT OFFICE.

sonnrc ArrARATns.

Application filed June 1,

7 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY ROBERT LAW, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Scenic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to a novel form of stage apparatus which C0111- bines the functions of a stage proscenium, a front curtain and a stage setting in one. The improvement is of such a nature that two or more groups may be combined on one stage so as to make possible an extended variety of stage settings by different combinations and arrangements of these groups.

An embodnnent of the lnventlon 1s illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of a stage furnished with my improvement, a portion of the fixed proscenium being broken away, Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a panel group on one side, Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, Figure 41 is a perspective View of a detail, and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view, showing one general arrangement of two groups.

The fixed proscenium is shown at and the stage at 11. The present improvement is used in combination with these fundamental elements substantially as follows.

Extending across the stage and concealed by the fixed proscenium 10, a supporting truss 12 is suspended by chains 13 or other supports. This truss is provided with longitudinal tracks, preferably formed in slots 14 in each of which travel pulleys 15 I from which is suspended a panel corresponding to each slot. In the drawing three panels 16, 17 and 18 are shown on each side; but the number may be varied at will, so long as the panels on each side are adapted to slip past each other, close together, as shown.

In order that these panels may be slipped past each other without swinging apart, and to preserve their parallel pos1t1on, lnterlocking angle plates 19, 20, are provided extending along the bottom edges of the panels, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. A plate 19 on the back of each panel is slidingly engaged by a plate 20 on the front of the next panel behind it.

The apparatus thus far described may be 1921. Serial No. 474,115.

used for a front curtain which can be closed by fully extending the panels until the edges meet in the middle of the stage. In order to prevent any panel from being slid too far with relation to its neighbor, stops 21 are provided as shown in Figure 3. To open the curtain the panel 18 nearest the middle of .the stage on each side is pushed back on its supporting pulleys 15 toward its own side of the stage. When it has been slid back far enough to engage the proper stops 21, the next panel 17 will be moved back, and so on, until the desired degree of opening has been obtained, when the panels will supply the sides of an inner or false proscenium.

In order to supply sides for the scene revealed by opening the curtain in this manner, swinging panels 2-2 are hinged to the outer or mid-stage edge of each panel 18 (see Figures 4 and 5). It is desirable that such a swinging panel should be held away from the stage floor when folded against the panel 18, to be slid back and forth, while at the same time it is also desirable that the panel 22 should rest with its lower edge on the floor when in the unfolded or display position shown in Figure 5. In order that these ends may be conveniently accomplished hinges 23 are used for supporting the swinging panels whose members impinge along a slanting surface, as indicated by the slanting line 24 in Figure 4. Where such a hinge is used, the act of swinging the panel 22 back against the panel 18 lifts it and vice versa.

A single group constructed as thus far described will answer in displaying a simple and comparatively shallow scene. In Figure 2 is shown one arrangement of two groups for producing a deeper scene; and, of course, a greater number of groups can be used if desired.

The relative sizes of panels, the distance apart of the groups, the greater or less complexity in' design and arrangements as well as the angular positions of the various swinging panels 22 can all be varied for producing an indefinite number of different scenic effects.

What I claim is 1. Scenic apparatus comprising a group of parallel panels and a swinging panel hinged to ,the mid-stage edge of one of said panels and adapted to be swung back out of sight or swung forward at such an angle as being adapted to be swung into visible posito form the side of a re-entrant scene. tion to cooperate in forming the side of a re- 2. Scenic apparatus comprising; twoentrant scene. 1 groups of parallel sliding panels adapted In testimony whereof I have hereto set my 5 to slide past each other, and a swinging hand on this 28th day of May, 1921.

panel hinged to the mid-stage edge oi a panel in each group, said swinging panels HARRY ROBERT LAW. 

